Rich, if you are building custom fixture definitions you can use the type "flame" when you want the duration to be non-adjustable, and "sfx" when you want the duration to be adjustable.  As it has worked out, each type corresponds to a useful package of characteristics, and the set of types covers all the useful packages.  The names of the types like flame, sfx, light, etc., are representative examples of effects that usually have the associated package of characteristics, but you can actually use any type for any effect.  As you probably  already know, the types are defined here: https://finale3d.com/documentation/why-is-type-so-important-what-depends-on-it-type/

I've been thinking more about this. Would you consider making this user-selectable instead of hard-coding it to the type? I built a custom DMX fixture (basically, an intermediary device that helps make a dumb DMX light "smarter", we actually talked about it at CobraCon this year), and there are some scenarios where it doesn't make sense to have the timing be adjustable. Having a default value for different types makes sense (and it probably still make sense to change Flames to be adjustable by default), but for building custom fixtures, purpose-built effect libraries, etc., it would be nice to be able to set this behavior per-effect.   Rich

  Tristan wrote: I don’t suppose there is a way at all to do this with Lite? The Product Totals report shows the price, but doesn’t calculate the cost and therefore, no total either. Would just be a nice to have.   Hi Tristan, all versions of Finale 3D (Lite, Hobbyist and Pro) will display both Cost and Price values on the Product Totals report. If you're seeing blank cost values on the report, it just means you haven't populated values into the Cost column in the effects window. The Cost column in the effects window is hidden by default. You can unhide columns by going to the blue gear ⚙️ menu.   The Lite version of Finale 3D does not provide the Price or Cost total.

Thanks, it worked perfectly here.

I don't suppose there is a way at all to do this with Lite?   The Product Totals report shows the price, but doesn't calculate the cost and therefore, no total either. Would just be a nice to have.

Hi Enzo - Vision Show, welcome to the Finale 3D forum!   At the moment, creating a five-pointed star requires making a custom 2D break pattern using the effect editor. To create the shell, you start with another effect, such as a peony, and then you draw the break pattern, as shown in the screenshot below.   Here is the custom simulation text for a 5" Red Five-Pointed Star Pattern shell for you. To bring this into Finale 3D, copy the long string of text below including the curly braces at the ends {}, then go to Effects > Create effect and use Ctrl+V on your keyboard to paste the text into the Visual description (full VDL) field and click Enter to create the effect. Once you've created the effect, you can edit by right clicking on it and selecting Edit in effect editor...   {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}    

Is there any simple way to make a shell in the shape of a 5-point star?

thank you!

Hey Pyro_344290000, girandolas and other "moving effects" are a somewhat clunky and handled in a special way compared to other effects.   Moving effects are animated using parameters that are stored in the "Effect Data" column in the script widow. The effects window doesn't include this column, which is why the girandola breaks when you try to add it from your script to your My Effects collection. The workaround for saving a girandola is to create an effect "macro". The macro works by storing the girandola animation information as a sort of payload, which the maco can then inject into the script as needed. To create a girandola macro, go to Effects > Effect macros > Create girandola macro...   As you noted, the other issue with girandolas is that each "driver" is represented as a different line of script. Whereas, the drivers on a girandola in real life are typically fused together, thus making it possible to ignite the entire girandola with a single e-match. The solution in Finale 3D is to mirror the real life girandola by fusing the drivers together. To do this, select the lines of script representing a single girandola, then go to Script > Chains > Combine as chain.

Hi Walker Pyrotechnics, I feel your pain! Unfortunately, there's currently no way to control the sort order of the effect collections/catalogs in the effects window drop-down list. However, I've added it to our roadmap as a future improvement. Thanks for posting!